Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering
Foster wide-ranging career opportunities through the bachelor of science in biomedical engineering (BSBME) at Wayne State University. Whether you intend to work in a laboratory, attend medical school or design life-saving medical equipment, our biomedical engineering major prepares you to thrive in this high-impact field.
Program highlights
- Rolling admissions — apply whenever you are ready!
- Transfer friendly
- Three concentrations: biomaterials, biomechanics and biomedical instrumentation
- Complete hands-on biomedical engineering research projects
- Gain professional experience in co-ops and internships
- ABET-accredited
What is biomedical engineering?
Biomedical engineers apply engineering principles in medical contexts such as prosthetics, medical imaging, safety equipment and stem cell research. When you study biomedical engineering, you prepare to look at the human body and medical interventions through the technical lens, alert to problems and at the leading edge of solutions that can revolutionize people’s well-being.
Biomedical engineering is a multidimensional, rewarding field that brings life sciences like biology, anatomy and physiology together with areas like mechanical and electrical engineering.
Learn more about biomedical engineering.
What will you learn in the biomedical engineering major?
With a bachelor of science in biomedical engineering from Wayne State University, you are equipped to:
- Work with individuals of diverse backgrounds on multidisciplinary problems to translate biomedical science into applications across the health and life sciences.
- Advance tools to solve biomedical engineering problems and design biomedical engineering systems.
- Continue your education and self-directed learning in engineering and biomedicine.
Program curriculum and courses
The 120-credit degree in biomedical engineering follows a four-year course path. You will begin with broad foundations in engineering design, chemistry, materials science, programming and more. As you specialize in your concentration, you will select the courses and electives that prepare you for career success.
From your first week in the biomedical engineering major, you will encounter real-world biomedical engineering problems and tools through our ongoing partnership with the Wayne State University School of Medicine and affiliated hospitals. These opportunities will equip you with thorough comprehension of the challenges and environments of clinical medicine.
In your capstone project, you will collaborate with peers and an industry or clinical professional to identify, analyze, design and execute a solution to a real-world problem. This invaluable practice positions you as an accomplished and success-driven candidate in the job market after graduation.
Review the B.S. in biomedical engineering curriculum.
Concentrations in biomedical engineering
As a biomedical engineering major, you can choose your degree concentration in biomaterials, biomechanics or biomedical instrumentation.
In this degree program, you will spend the first two years establishing a strong foundation of knowledge. Before your junior year, you will choose a specialization as the focus for the remainder of your study. This concentration will involve at least five elective courses designed to deepen your knowledge in the path of greatest interest to your professional career.
Undergraduate research opportunities
Explore your interests and make your mark in biomedical engineering by joining our department’s undergraduate research groups. As early as your first year, you can work alongside peers and expert faculty mentors in leading-edge scholarly research that makes a real-world impact.
The biomedical engineering faculty includes experts in biomedical imaging and instrumentation, computational systems biology, injury and musculoskeletal biomechanics, tissue engineering and biomaterials and more, all of whom are eager to collaborate with students on exciting research.
Biomedical engineering degree career outlook
Your future is expansive. With a bachelor’s in biomedical engineering, you will establish expertise in a wide range of fields and prepare to support the immense needs of a growing, aging human population.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 10% growth — faster than average — in biomedical engineering careers over the next decade, and salaries are lucrative; the median pay in 2021 was $97,410 per year. You can work in a variety of specialties, including:
- Clinical engineer (work in hospitals to perform maintenance and repairs to medical devices)
- Medical device design
- Quality control of medical devices
- Regulation of medical devices
- Automotive safety
- Biomedical research
The bachelor of science in biomedical engineering prepares you for further study, including an M.S. in biomedical engineering or medical school.
Tuition and cost
Our goal at Wayne State is to administer top-quality learning at accessible and affordable rates. We’ve adopted a flat-rate tuition structure, meaning you pay one flat rate as a full-time undergraduate student no matter how many credits you take. This format is proven to help students graduate faster and with less debt than per-credit-hour tuition fees.
We also invest in your education through robust financial aid opportunities, including scholarships and grants that do not have to be repaid. If you wish to be considered for university merit scholarships, apply by Dec. 1. These scholarships are administered separately from the biomedical engineering program admission process. In 2022, Wayne State distributed nearly $335 million in financial aid.
To estimate your total cost of attendance — the flat tuition rate minus potential grants and scholarships — and gauge your expected loan options, use our Net Price Calculator.
Wayne State student testimonial
The opportunities that have been presented to me and my colleagues are incredible - the collaboration and uplifting culture at the College of Engineering is unprecedented. It is frequently encouraged to get involved and make lasting connections with professors.
Pranav Rajaram, 4th year BME student
ABET accreditation
The Wayne State University bachelor of science in biomedical engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. This standard is internationally recognized by employers, graduate schools and industry leaders as an indicator of excellence.
Learn more about the ABET accreditation.
Admission requirements
BME program application decisions are made after university admission. Applications from students not admitted to the university will not be considered.
Freshmen
Minimum admissions criteria for incoming freshmen are:
- High School GPA: 3.2
- Composite/Total Score:
- ACT Composite: 23/ACT Math: 26
- SAT Combined:1150/SAT Math: 620
The department does not have absolute cut-offs for admission.
Prerequisite coursework for incoming freshmen
- Students entering from high school are encouraged to take the following tests:
- AP and IB Chemistry
- AP and IB Calculus (Math)
- AP and IB Biology
- AP and IB English
You will also need to place into at least Calculus I (MAT 2010) and General Chemistry (CHM 1125 and 1130).
You can achieve your math placement through testing (ACT, SAT or Math Placement Exam: test, material) or transfer credit. To get into General Chemistry, earn a passing score in AP Chemistry, the Chemistry Placement Exam (test, material), or transfer credit. In both cases, you can earn transfer credit through a course at another institution.
You can be placed directly into the BSBME program with a passing score in AP and IB chemistry and calculus tests.
Review available tests, scores and equivalencies.
Transfer students
You can apply to transfer to the biomedical engineering major after you complete college-level coursework at Wayne State or another college or university. To transfer, you should have a minimum overall GPA of 3.3.
If you intend to transfer from another institution, review the course requirements in the bachelor of science in biomedical engineering curriculum and refer to Wayne State’s transfer equivalency tables. If a course you intend to transfer is not listed in the transfer tables, we haven’t yet evaluated that course for equivalency. In such cases, we encourage you to submit course syllabi with your application for a preliminary review.
BME undergraduate program transfer guides
Wayne State University’s undergraduate BME program is a four-year, cohort-based curriculum. In order to prepare for admission as a transfer student, you must complete a minimum set of courses so that you can join the cohort at the appropriate point in the program. If you do not meet the full set of prerequisites, you may request consideration for admission at an earlier point in the program.
Wayne State transfer and AP credit evaluation
Prerequisite coursework for transfer students
To transfer to the biomedical engineering major in your second year, you must complete the following courses or their equivalents:
- Math: MAT 2010 and MAT 2020
- Chemistry: CHM 1125 and 1130
- Physics: PHY 2175
- English: ENG 1020
- Biology: BIO 1510 (+ BIO 1511)
- Engineering: BE 1200, 1300, 1310 and BE 1500
The Transfer Credit website offers further guidance on how your credits can transfer to Wayne State. You can also review the Wayne State transfer and AP credit evaluation.
Apply to Wayne State’s biomedical engineering bachelor’s program!
Embrace opportunities to develop as an engineer and a medical professional in the bachelor of science in biomedical engineering program at Wayne State University.
Hone your studies with a concentration in biomaterials, biomechanics or biomedical instrumentation, and put your learning into practice in co-op placements, internships and your capstone design project.
Contact BME Academic Advisor Namrata Murthy for questions regarding admission procedures and requirements.